“If there’s one thing that irks me, it is people who do not train for the race. These are participants who treat the race lightly and whose only goal is to walk the 42.195km, wear the finisher T-shirt and medal, say they have done a marathon and never do one again. To them, I say, please don’t bother to sign up as it is an insult to the rest of us who have put in blood, sweat and tears into the race. But to those who train and race their best, even if it means walking eventually, you have earned the right to plod past the line with your head held high.”